I've always heard that getting to the hard drive in an eMac was REALLY hard and also very dangerous because of the CRT and high voltage. How long can an eMac sit unused before it is deemed safe and any threat of shock has been discharged long ago? If the eMac has been sitting unused and unplugged for 5 or 6 years, can one safely open it up and yank out the internal drive before turning the computer into a recycling center or chucking it into a landfill?

So, here’s a perfectly rational, safe policy: If you don’t have to work on the high voltage supply, keep your cotton pickin’ mitts off of the high voltage circuitry. All the components there are incredibly well insulated by design. And again, always work with the AC power disconnected (not just switched off – pull out the cord). If you want to minimize the chance of getting an unpleasant jolt, just let the thing sit overnight. If you follow these rules, you can safely work on your Mac without fear.

Thanks. Yes, I am concerned (always have been) about someone getting data off of the drive. This is the first Apple computer I have owned that was this hard to get to the hard drive. Even if it was hard to get to, there was not this big CRT monitor. I suppose I could trust a secure wipe where I let it write ones and zeros randomly all over the drive about 7 or 8 times, but I'd rather just have the drive out of the machine and then wipe it and/or drill through it. I have never donated a computer or dropped it off at a recycling center with a hard drive inside. Not sure why you think someone getting data off of a drive is highly unlikely. It is not 100% certain that someone will/would get data off of the drive, but it is also not 100% certain that they will not. Any drive I have that contains tax information (been doing my taxes on Macs going back to probably 1990. Back when ChipSoft was selling MacinTax. Personal E-mail might be lingering there. Family photos, Whatever... just stuff that I would not want in the hands of other people. I'm also that person that shreds everything at home. Sensitive stuff as well as junk mail that is not sensitive at all. Cross-cut micro shredders are your friend. Been shredding since also around 1990. They have come a long way over the years too.

Thanks. This eMac is too heavy to lug to an Apple Store Genius Bar and I bet they would want me to leave it with them (defeats the purpose of being concerned with data on the drive if I am leaving it with them overnight). So, having a service manual is great. In a perfect world, they would let me stand there and watch as they remove the drive and hand it over to me on the spot. But that is not likely to happen. Thank you for the link.

Yeah, I am not concerned about damaging the computer (other than fear of shock, electrocution, or poisonous gases escaping and killing me from the bad chemicals inside of the CRT). It is not my intention to ever use it again. I just want to remove the hard drive. If everything gets broken along the way as I dig deep inside to extract the drive, that is fine with me. Clips can snap and wires can be cut. So, nothing has to fit back together again.

If I have enough knowledge to get data off a drive -- then Im gonna know whats possible or whats a waste of time. A computer thats got a CRT = ancient = PATA drive = old outdated crap = highly unlikely.

fwiw ewaste companies are no joke. We did an ewaste fundraiser for my kids school. No one was allowed to keep anything from the drop off. Even tho there were some unused printers. Didnt matter. Their dumpster was lidded and locked with 4 locks when it left. The guy that picked it up didnt have the keys, only the facility. He said the place is monitored 24/7 and he had to pass a background check. Straight from the dumpster to the shredder. (hey your favorite!) everything is shredded to about the size of a dime. They even have realtime destruction viewing. I said that seemed extreme. he made this motion

a 7-8 pass might take days. put a drill thru it, or a big screwdriver.